Why are there launch windows when traveling to outer space? Scholars explore the trajectory of traveling from one planet to another. By adjusting the departure and destination planets, as well as the launch date, they observe the ideal launch window.

Concepts

mars, kepler's laws

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Research when NASA hopes to send a crew to Mars

Classroom Considerations

• Requires a free CK-12 account to access the interactive
• Assumes prior knowledge of squared and cubed numbers

Pros

• Worksheet offers easier questions while the simulation includes challenge questions
• Displays a graph of the progress as well as the overhead view of the journey

Cons

• Formatting on the introduction video cuts off the text at the top if using a small screen

Common Core

RST.9-10.4 RST.11-12.4